Phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, occur in whole grains, herbs, fruits, seeds and beans, and are thought to mimic estrogen in the body, according to the consumer health information website NetWellness.org. Some natural plant estrogens may benefit menopausal symptoms and help treat breast cancer. However, insufficient evidence exists to support phytoestrogens in the treatment of hormone-related conditions.
Flaxseed
Ground flaxseed is a weak estrogen that may benefit breast cancer patients, according to AnnieAppleseedProject.com. Research conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto Department of Nutritional Sciences appears to back up this claim. The 2006 study demonstrated flaxseed's ability to reduce the spread of breast tumors. Mice, injected with human breast cancer cells, were fed a diet of 10 percent flaxseed alone, or a combination of the seeds and flaxseed oil, for seven weeks. The study concluded that flaxseed components inhibited tumor metastasis. Though this study seems positive, more research is needed to prove flaxseed's effectiveness in breast cancer treatment.
Soy
Soy is the most common phytoestrogen. Choose from many soy products, including soy milk, soy nuts, tofu, soy-nut butter and soy yogurt. In order to obtain soy's health benefits, you need a serving of 25 grams daily, according to the FDA.
The health benefits of soy for menopausal symptoms has become a common topic of inquiry in the medical community. University of Cincinnati nursing professor Bonnie J. Brehm, for example, notes growing interest in soy's ability to alleviate night sweats. Although believed beneficial, soy is not scientifically proven to treat menopausal symptoms.
Red Clover
Red clover's estrogenic properties may relieve menopausal symptoms, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. However, it is uncertain which red clover factor---phytoestrogens or other plant components---provides relief for menopausal women. Women taking red clover have reported few side effects, but red clover's estrogenic effect on hormone-sensitive tissues, like in the breast and uterus, may be harmful. Red clover, while believed beneficial, has not been sufficiently proven to treat menopause symptoms.
Coffee
Did you know your morning cup of coffee contains phytoestrogens? According to AnnieAppleSeedProject.org, coffee has strong estrogenic effects. More than two cups of coffee a day may increase estrogen levels and exacerbate conditions like breast pain and endometriosis, says osteopathic physician Joseph Mercola. Researchers found women drinking greater amounts of coffee had the highest levels of estradiol, a natural insulin. Mercola cautions women who have endometriosis, breast pain or a family history of breast or ovarian cancer to avoid coffee. However, more research is needed to confirm the estrogenic effects of coffee.
References
- Annie Appleseed Project: Chemicals, Food, Herbs That Are Estrogenic
- NetWellness: Food Sources for Estrogen
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Menopausal Symptoms and CAM
- Mercola.com: Coffee Increases Estrogen in Women
- National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: Flaxseed and Its Componeints Reduce Metastasis After Surgical Excision of Solid Human Breast Tumor
